Survival New: Outdoor Safety with Noise and Survival

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Survival News: 

I recently read an article about a teen who had gone missing in LA County in California and I feel inspired to write about Outdoor Safety regarding this.  Outdoor Safety and Survival is always paramount in my mind anytime we leave Fairbanks city limits for any reason. It gets a bit annoying to my wife, but she understands.



The Story Goes As Such...

according to the news post below:  a non-verbal teen (meaning he can't speak) got lost in the wilderness in LA County in a heavily wooded area.  The Search and Rescue Team found him because he was clanking rocks together to get someone's attention.  This happened in Crescenta Valley Park (google map of the park below).  The Search and Rescue Team found the teen in a steep canyon and only found him because he was clanking rocks together and the sound echoed in the canyon.  

Non-verbal teen lost in L.A. area woods found after clinking rocks together, alerting rescuers (msn.com)

Nonverbal teen lost in L.A.-area woods found after he clinked rocks together, alerting rescuers (nbcnews.com)



Outdoor Safety and Noise...

I'm glad the kid in the story was reunited with his family.  I've never been overly lost in the woods like that, as I have training, but I do know several people who have.  Having to be found by Search and Rescue is no joke.  Even worse, some predatory animals will begin to track you while your lost.  Knowing what to do is key.

This brings me to sound.  Most animals don't like loud sound naturally.  A bear is not something to startle.  I've startled a black bear a time or two, and fortunately it ran.  I cannot imagine startling a grizzly and have it charge instead of flee.  Even though its a bit annoying on my part, a bear bell is good to have.  Having a small air horn, like what you get at the sporting event, is also good to have on your belt.  That loud noise will startle the predator or whatever in the area and cause its fight or flight to trigger.



One other aspect about sound, which the teen above capitalized on, is unnatural sound.  Nature has a "natural vibe" to the sound it makes.  If you are lost, or trying to signal someone via sound, having a pattern or unnatural sound is excellent.  This kid clanks rocks together.  I can attest that a moose does not like the sound of two birch sticks being clanked together.  

Sing a Song...

If you can make sound with you mouth, then whistle a tune or sing a song loudly (even if you can't sing).  The sound is all that matters.  I learned a long time ago that long-distance hikers memorize entire albums and sing or hum it while along the trails.  Although I don't partake in long-distance hiking, but I do tend to sing moderately.  Last summer, I scared off a porcupine vicinity Chena Lakes by singing the last song on the radio as I meandered down the trail to one of my fishing spots.  Guaranteed had I not, I would have been quilled based on where it was on the trail.


One of Many Tools

Generating sounds is one of many tools for Outdoor Safety and Survival.  If you find yourself going into the wilderness, I strongly encourage you to read up on basic survival.  One good site that I've found that is straightforward is:

Basic Survival Skills (wildernesscollege.com)


Conclusion...

I'll say it again:  that kid did well making noise and I'm happy that he is reunited with his family.  If you ever find your self separated / lost in the outdoors, remember that sound, especially unnatural sound, patterns, or singing, can help you out.



Location: Fairbanks, AK, USA

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